02
Structure and Foundations

What are the Masters of Design and Innovation? On what pillars are they based? What structure do they follow and in what way are they different from other training programmes?

Innovation, experimentation, strategic drive and a commitment to sustainability. The Masters of Design and Innovation anticipate the needs of the future: they train curious designers –seekers of new questions–, building a bridge between profitability and creativity, and they seek to guarantee social and environmental sustainability.

A year devoted to research. A year based on project culture through design, innovation and creativity, leading to four different programmes which exist as a whole. A path made up of workshops, seminars, case studies, trips and visits focused on a spirit of action and participation. A year of learning while doing.

1 Values

Design, from the perspective of the IED Madrid, positions itself as an interlocutor who is able to question, reflect and respond to the new economic, social and cultural processes of our societies and a new environmental awareness. In this sense, the values developed in the educational framework constitute a true benchmark from which to act in our societies in an active, critical and thoughtful manner.

The programs of the Masters of Design and Innovation reinforce the values of a design school such as the IED Madrid by promoting concepts such as:

Innovate: design must quickly adapt to the new ways of life that arise as a result of social change, anticipating future needs. To do so, students must combine knowledge in information technology with the development of creativity.

To experience: experimentation using several inputs and learning how to detect errors, which are extremely explanatory in the creative process and can reach the finished product category. Not only do we want to train designers that can offer answers, but also those who will seek new questions.

Promote / activate: by encouraging strategic thinking, using the tools of design to solve strategic problems in companies. This applies not only to the context of form, but to the service or design management as a discipline that bridges profitability and creativity.

Commitment to Sustainability: the Department of Sustainability of the IED Madrid works to respond to the commitment that design has with society and our environment, guaranteeing the quality of life of present and future generations, emphasising in the Masters of Design and Innovation a core of this systemic approach, which is responsible and passionate for the project, focusing on people, welfare and ecosystems. From innovation and entrepreneurship, we are committed to a form of development that does not always entail growth.

In short, designers’ curiosity drives them to new challenges and to a passion for finding possible solutions, and, as Massimo Vignelli said: “Creativity needs the support of knowledge to be able to perform at its best”. This knowledge is the nutrient that enables us to overcome, with awareness and responsibility, the challenges in an increasingly complex environment, and it is our multifaceted vision that enables us to address them successfully.

2 Structure

The Masters of Design and Innovation are structured on two levels of educational development.

The first is conceptual, based on three pillars that foster and reinforce concepts for their direct application to:

Research: acquisition of knowledge to master design methodology and analytical skills and research.

Project: development and implementation of the project, allowing students to consolidate the knowledge and experience gained during the program.

Work: promoting professional projection into the professional field.

The second is structural, defining the appropriate training journey:

Each master has four Units, with the shared goal of successfully reaching a correct execution and development of the final project. These Units are specific to each master and develop their own content in each area of interest, except for Unit 1, which is common to all and in which the foundations of the necessary concepts are established, to foster research, creativity and innovation as a starting point, in order to strengthen the approach of each student and provide them with the tools needed to turn their ideas into a project. These Units are enriched with other activities, such as presentations for the validation of each project before each Program Leader, travel and experiential elements and interdisciplinary activities that will enhance both theoretical and practical aspects.

The last stage before the final presentation is reinforced with contents aimed at personal brands, communication and production of projects.

3 Methodology

The Masters of Design and Innovation are methodologically based on project culture and on the concept of learning while doing, where the focus lies in the spirit of action and participation.

These programs, where work and research are carried out in parallel to the training process, contemplate a range of individual and team activities through which students interact with professionals, companies and their peers.

The relationship between disciplines is promoted by encouraging the exchange of knowledge, ideas, opinions and experiences in order to provide participants with a stimulating and enriching training programme to help them in their professional career.

For the proper development of content, in each case the most appropriate format will be applied:

Workshops: group activities where students put into practice the knowledge acquired and experiment with new concepts or tools, from several approaches.

Seminars: meetings with professionals in which the goal is to lay solid foundations for the specific knowledge of each program in order to ensure the successful implementation of ideas.

Conferences and case studies: bringing students closer to the experiences of some of the top professionals in various realms of action.

Trips: an opportunity to expand the vision of students in other environments, make professional contacts and position the school’s space in various places, institutions and companies.

Visits: to learn first-hand from professionals, schools or places of inspiration, where work, businesses and processes are carried out that may be inspiring or work as reference points.

Tutorials: meetings offering personalized monitoring of the training process, the research process and the proper development of the thesis project.

Time Lab: it is essential for students to devote an increasing amount of time on studying, reflecting, research, analysis, activities, experimentation etc. For this reason, the Time Lab is essential for the proper development of the program and the attainment of the objectives set out, to achieve the best results in the final project.